More authentic than before and even healthier: Old town renovation in the 20th century

At first glance, historic old towns are often perceived as authentic and unchanged remnants of the past. On closer inspection, however, it becomes equally apparent that the twentieth century also left significant marks on the appearance of many old towns, albeit marks that were intentionally designed to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Since the early twentieth century, old towns were regarded not only as heritage sites worthy of preservation, but also as areas in need of urban renewal. During the urban renewal initiatives of the 1920s to the 1950s, the prevailing solution was to preserve the overall townscape while treating individual buildings as largely open to alteration or replacement. This lecture examines these developments with a focus on Zurich, other Swiss cities, and the broader international debate.
Event in German.